London art exhibitions this May offer a vibrant mix of imagination, emotion, and global storytelling. From immersive digital worlds and intricate textile art to powerful sculpture and painting, these seven standout shows promise to engage, challenge, and inspire. Step into Ed Atkins’ surreal dreamscapes, feel the cultural pulse in Amoako Boafo’s expressive portraits, and uncover the layered beauty in Noah Davis’ moving retrospective. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a curious explorer, May in London is the perfect time to dive into the city’s most thought-provoking exhibitions.
Noah Davis at the Barbican
Barbican Centre, London
Until 11 May 2025
This landmark retrospective honors the late American artist Noah Davis, whose poignant, painterly visions of Black life blend the everyday with the surreal. A decade after his passing, the Barbican brings together his emotionally charged, uncanny works in a powerful tribute to a talent gone too soon—but never forgotten.
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Amoako Boafo: I Do Not Come to You by Chance
Gagosian, London
Until 24 May 2025
In his London debut, celebrated Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo presents deeply personal new works inspired by his home city of Accra and the creative community that shaped him. Drawing from the Nigerian novel of the same name, the show unveils stories of friendship, resilience, and artistic heritage through Boafo’s signature, expressive portraits. Expect a rare, introspective look into the life of an artist who usually lets his brush speak louder than words.
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Linder: Danger Came Smiling
Hayward Gallery, London
Until 5 May 2025
A fearless pioneer of feminist punk art, Linder steps into the spotlight with her first major retrospective, Danger Came Smiling. Spanning five decades, this dynamic exhibition at the Hayward Gallery traces her provocative journey through photomontage, performance, and subversive pop culture critique. From early punk zines to works exploring themes of pornography, ballet, fetish, and fashion, Linder’s art remains as bold and unapologetic as ever. The show culminates in her latest venture—deepfake self-portraits that challenge identity in the digital age. It’s raw, rebellious, and radically relevant.
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Secret 7” at NOW Gallery
NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula
Until 1 June 2025
Where music meets mystery—Secret 7” returns for its ninth edition, transforming vinyl sleeves into one-of-a-kind art pieces. Seven songs, 700 records, and hundreds of original artworks from creatives around the world, all sold anonymously for charity. Visitors can view the entire collection at NOW Gallery before they vanish into private hands—each one a collector’s gem benefiting children in conflict zones via War Child.
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Anne von Freyburg: Filthy Cute
Saatchi Gallery, London
Until 11 May 2025
Dutch artist Anne von Freyburg turns textiles into a canvas of commentary in Filthy Cute. Her vivid, large-scale “paintings” layer fabric, ink, sequins, and fringe to explore the glittering tropes of romance and femininity found in Hollywood and beyond. This tactile, ironic, and theatrical show blurs craft and fine art, inviting viewers to reconsider the power dynamics stitched into popular culture.
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Tunga at Lisson Gallery
Lisson Gallery, London
Until 17 May 2025
A posthumous tribute to Brazilian visionary Tunga, this exhibition showcases ten evocative sculptures from 2004 to 2014. Famed for his enigmatic use of materials like hair, teeth, copper, and quartz, Tunga’s works at Lisson Gallery are haunting portals into Brazil’s industrial, mythic, and colonial pasts—alive with symbolic tension and raw, magnetic energy.
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Soft Armour, Heavy Bones
Edel Assanti, London
Until 13 May 2025
Korean artist Si On’s second UK solo show confronts fragility and strength in equal measure. Her bronze sculptures and vivid canvases explore the scars and softness that shape us—rendering trauma, memory, and resilience in layered, emotional forms. With raw, poetic beauty, Soft Armour, Heavy Bones reminds us of the contradictions that make us human.
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To see the best art exhibitions around the world in 2025, visit here.
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